Category: Maxxd News

FC THROWBACK: WAR PIG – TUNED VW RABBIT

Welcome to this week’s FC Throwback, where we take a look back at some of our favourite previous feature cars. This week it’s James Taylor’s 1983 VW Rabbit from 2013… This stanced-out, bomber-style, rat-rod Rabbit has plenty of military bits inside and out… and so does the owner.

When James White blew the motor in his turbo’d 2006 Jetta, he did what any self-respecting tuner would do. He bought an ’83 Rabbit beater to run around in while he rebuilt his main car.

What he didn’t plan on doing was acquiring such an affinity for the little pocket rocket. “Something about the Rabbit just made me fall in love,“ said James. “At first, I just started doing small mods like putting a 1.6L cam in the 1.8 head.” He also added an adjustable cam gear, headers and exhaust and deleted everything that wasn’t necessary for it to run, freeing up horsepower.

James continues: “Then one day I decided to turbo. So my attention shifted away from the Mk5 Jetta as I proceeded to source parts for the turbo build.” Sometimes a mistress is just more intriguing than the wife.

Looking to make his mistress a little more, er, muscular, James started scouring junk yards in search of parts. His first turbo came from a Saab, a 9000 T3. After that blew up he moved to a T3 unit with ported and belled compressor housing. And to keep it in sleeper mode, the turbo is hidden behind the firewall. Of course the machine gun-end blow-off valve suggests something sinister lurks under the hood.

James estimates power to be a little over 200hp with 13lbs of boost. Since the gutted Rabbit weighs only 1,860lbs it has the uncanny ability to put a few big block Corvettes on their asses. And all this power is made with the stock 1.8L bottom end! Non-military issue equipment includes the V-Maxx coilovers and 14×6 Scirroco teardrop rims among other upgrades.

James White and his friends have come through with a menacing military rat that deserves accolades from soldiers and citizens alike. The fact he pulled it all off on a budget and with shrapnel in his leg – sustained in Iraq during his eight years service – makes both he and the car deserving of a full, 21 gun salute.

TECH SPEC 1983 VW RABBIT (MK1 GOLF)

Styling
Custom rattle-can paint job, Cabriolet tail light swap, single rounds conversion with H4s, badgeless grille, GTI front lip, anodized gold JDM tow hooks, military jaw decale.

Chassis
V-Maxx coilovers, prothane poly inserts for motor mounts, control arms, 9.4in rotor brake disc up front, Mk3 8.9in Wolfsburg, 6x14in 16v Scirocco teardrops painted in textured black, Toyo Proxes 195/45x14s tyres front with 205/50x14s at the rear.

Interior
Custom 6-point cage, MK2 GTI Recarro seats, 4-point harnesses, all VDO individual gauges, AEM UEGO wideband, Wolfsburg steering wheel, 5-pane wink mirror, custom M249 machine gun barrel shifter.

Tuning
Stock 1.8L JH bottom end, P&Pd ABA head, Techtonics 268 cam, Autotech adjustable cam gear, custom turbo manifold, custom short runner intake manifold, EMUSA .50 Trim T3 Turbo with ported and belled compressor housing @ 13psi, Forge boost controller (mounted in cabin), Godspeed 38mm external wastegate (hood dump), Ford Probe side mount intercooler, Digifant 1 ECU, 26lb injectors, BBM FPR Adapter, BBM fuel rail, silicone intake systems slim line 12-inch fan, ACCEL plug wires, MSD Blaster 2 coil, NGK plugs, custom 2.5in straight piped turbo back exhaust, Clutch Masters FX400 sprung 6 puck clutch, Sachs pressure plate.

Words & photos Isaac Mion

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August 20, 2020
F56 MINI FAST MODS

It’s hard to believe the F56 MINI has been with us for seven years, what’s less surprising is how well they react to modifications. Here’s our F56 MINI fast mods guide.

It’s funny how we still refer to the BMW MINI as the ‘new’ MINI considering it turns 20 next year. Of course, BMW have given us many incarnations since those early MINI Ones and Coopers but the current model, the F56 is amongst the best and has become a firm favourite with us modifiers. There’s literally hundreds of BMW MINI specialists out there, so who should you choose? Well, you pick the one with the best reputation, heritage and the most respected name in BMW tuning, I am of course, referring to German giants, AC Schnitzer.

Based in Aachen (the AC in AC Schnitzer) Germany, AC Schnitzer have been tuning BMWs and MINIs for over 30 years. Over 1700 products are distributed to 30 countries and through approximately 60 dealers in the UK and Ireland, around half of which are BMW / MINI main dealers. A similar situation exists in Germany, where 40 BMW dealers are authorised to sell and fit AC Schnitzer products.

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AC Schnitzer are a premium brand, manufacturing for current models only in the following product areas; performance upgrades, suspension, aerodynamic parts in PU and carbon fibre, sports exhausts and downpipes, alloy wheels (cast, flow-formed and forged) and interior accessories.

All AC Schnitzer parts are designed to meet or exceed OEM quality with industry-leading warranty support and are therefore described as “beyond the standard”! And here’s just a small sample of what they have to offer for the F56 MINI…

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August 20, 2020
POWER MAXED RACING TO RETURN TO BTCC SEASON

Power Maxed Racing have today announced their intention to complete the rest of the 2020 British Touring Car Championship, albeit with one car rather than the usual two.

The Warwickshire-based team will field one of their race winning Vauxhall Astras for the remaining 7 rounds of the season, giving a number of up and coming drivers the opportunity to get to grips with the successful front-wheel-drive machinery.

Mike Bushell will be first up, piloting the Astra at Oulton Park and Knockhill, as part of a development programme the Warwickshire-based team have put together with the 2x Clio Cup UK Champion.

Bushell is no stranger to the BTCC grid, having scored numerous Top-10 finishes over the last few years, as well as stepping in for Sam Tordoff during the 2019 campaign.

As an accomplished motorsport engineer, having previously run Tordoff’s Honda Civic, Bushell will be engineering the Astra for the remainder of the 2020 season, also doubling up as driver coach, as Power Maxed Racing look to field a number of highly accomplished British drivers throughout the year.

With Jason Plato confirmed for the 2021 season, as well as all existing team partners, the team are keen to use this year as an opportunity to recognise the talents of a number of drivers from the upper echelons of British motorsport, as well as support the championship through the toughest year its ever faced.

Team Principal Adam Weaver – “Our announcement at the start of the season to temporarily withdraw from the BTCC was, as we said at the time, only intended to be for a few rounds. After just two rounds away from the paddock, and with the grid seemingly stronger than ever this year, we simply couldn’t wait to step back into the mix. We’d like to thank all our fans for their support, and we’re excited to get back out on track and give you what you want to see!”

Mike Bushell – “PMR have proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with since they started racing in 2015, and I’m excited to be working with them this season. Martin and his team have put together a great car, as proven by multiple race wins, and I’m looking forward to both driving and engineering the car, as well as working with the great driver line up they are putting together. I’ve had my eye on some of the names for a while, and I think this programme gives them a unique opportunity to peddle a front running car in the world’s best racing series.”

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August 19, 2020